Publisher: Philippe Saive Monthly N° 5 • Apr-May 2015 ALL INTERNATIONAL NEWS

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MIMO ITO MADE HISTORY IN GERMANY P.12

ITTF LEGENDS TOUR JEAN-MI WAS THE “BEST OF THE BEST” THIS TIME. P.07

theoffi cialpingmagazine.com

3 EDITORIAL EDITORIAL - EDITORIAL • THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

In a few days the QOROS 2015 World Championships will commence; alongside the Olympic WELCOME TO Games, it is the greatest event in our sport. It is the tournament that is steeped in tradition. Comparatively, the Olympic Games, which first saw table tennis staged in Seoul in 1988, is OUR OFFICIAL PING a relative infant. Always at a World Championships there are moments of sheer drama, memorable matches MAGAZINE, ONE that are impinged in the mind for eternity.

WHICH VISITS THE Who will ever forget the golden era of now some two decades ago when Europe and Asia fought for the Men’s Singles top prize? Battles such as the 1987 final when China’s Jiang FOUR CORNERS OF Jialiang beat Sweden’s Jan-Ove Waldner are overdue. Ten years later Jan-Ove Waldner was to win in Manchester but since then, apart from the THE WORLD. remarkable achievement of Austria’s in 2003, the top step of the podium has always belonged to China. Read about what happened in the table tennis world since our last issue. In Suzhou can , or emulate the efforts of Wer- mer Schlager, can they cause upsets? Further don’t forget , beaten by Jan-Ove Waldner in the 1997 final; now 38 years old but earlier this year the Men’s Singles winner on the GAC Group ITTF World Tour in Qatar.

Only one year to go and he will be able to join the ITTF Legends Tour! An event growing rapidly in status, recently saw Jean-Michel Saive beat both Jan-Ove Waldner and Jörgen Persson on their home soil in Halmstad.

Present in Halmstad, like a good wine maturing with age, Jean-Michel Saive will be making his 24th consecutive appearance in a World Championships. Conversely another will be ma- king her first, Japan’s 14 year old , who became the youngest ever Women’s Singles winner on the ITTF World Tour when recently she won in Germany.

A young player with a glittering career ahead; perhaps she can look to Jean-Michel Saive. ©The official ping magazine He was 13 years old when he made his debut in Tokyo in 1983; ten years later he reached Text : Ian Marshall, Philippe Saive the final. & Maurice Pire Photos : FB.com/ITTFWorld & Remy Gros, Christophe Neuville & Michael Klug Men’s World Cup: Ina Fassbender Enjoy Suzhou, the city where history will be written. | Women’s World Cup: Agentur Diener Philippe Saive | Asian Games: An Sungho Design : visible.be SUMMARY

ITTF LEGENDS TOUR P.07

The atmosphere cordial but the competitive edge undiminished, Belgium’s Jean-Mi- chel Saive beat the hometown hero, Jörgen Persson, to win the ITTF-Legends Tour tour- nament in the Swedish city of Halmstad on the evening of Wednesday 4th March.

GAC GROUP WORLD TOUR, GERMAN OPEN, BREMEN (GER) - SUPER SERIES P.10

Elevated to the top spot on the Men’s World Ranking earlier this month as a direct result of his success in Kuwait; China’s won his second GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Men’s Singles title of the year, when… 5

GAC GROUP WORLD TOUR, QATAR OPEN, DOHA (QAT) - SOMMAIRE - SOMMAIRE SUPER SERIES • P.16

The winner in 2003, once again Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus stood proudly on the LE PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING LE - top step of the podium in Doha. On the eve- ning of Sunday 22nd February in the splen- dours of the Aspire Complex, he won the Men’s Singles title at the GAC Group 2015…

GAC GROUP WORLD TOUR, KUWAIT OPEN, KUWAIT CITY (KUW) - SUPER SERIES P.22

Successful in Kuwait in 2007, when he beat compatriot in the final to win his first ever ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles title; once again, eight years later, Ma Long enjoyed success in the Gulf State.

ITTF-EUROPEAN TOP 16 CUP, BAKU (AZE) P.26

A surprise penultimate round defeat at the hands of Denmark’s one year ago, when the tournament was staged in Lausanne, Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov made no mistake one year later at the NN Table Tennis Club 2015 Europe Top 16 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

GAC GROUP WORLD TOUR, GAC GROUP WORLD TOUR, HUNGARIAN OPEN, BUDAPEST SPANISH OPEN, ALMERIA (HUN) - CHALLENGE SERIES P.32 (ESP) - MAJOR SERIES P.36

GAC GROUP WORLD TOUR, ITTF-AFRICA CHAMPIONSHIPS, NIGERIA OPEN, LAGOS (NGR) - CAIRO (EGY) P.38 CLASSEMENT MONDIAL/BELGE CHALLENGE SERIES P.34 MASCULIN & FÉMININ GAC GROUP WORLD TOUR, ASIA CUP 2015 P.40 P.42>45 PLEIN CADRE

FROM BUENOS AIRES TO HAITI, THE WORLD IS CELEBRATING WORLD TABLE TENNIS DAY IN ITS OWN UNIQUE WAY.

The 6 April 2015, marks the first ever World Table Tennis day which rejoices the sport of table tennis, a true sport for all. Over 100 events in more than 50 countries across the world are being held today, with one common theme - Table Tennis for Everyone, Everywhere! 7 NEWS - NEWS • THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

ITTF LEGENDS TOUR HOMETOWN HERO BEATEN ROAD TO FINAL Nevertheless, for both their path to the gold medal contest was by no means wit- AT FINAL HURDLE BUT hout moments when the eventual decision was in some doubt.

At the quarter-final stage Jörgen Persson HALMSTAD CELEBRATES accounted for Germany’s Jörg Rosskopf in four games (12–10, 11–9, 9–11, 11–3) and thus repeated the success he enjoyed when BELGIAN SUCCESS they last met on the international scene. They confronted each other at the Liebherr 2004 World Team Championships in Doha when Jörgen Persson had also emerged The atmosphere cordial but the competitive edge undiminished, victorious. Belgium’s Jean-Michel Saive beat the hometown hero, Jörgen A place in the final reserved Jörgen Pers- Persson, to win the ITTF-Legends Tour tournament in the Swedish son overcame Frenchman Jean-Philippe city of Halmstad on the evening of Wednesday 4th March. Gatien, again in a four games duel (11–9, 10–12, 11–6, 11–6), to reserve his place in the final. At the final hurdle, Jean-Michel Saive emerged victorious in four games (11–8, 4–11, 11–9, 11–7). Both present at the recent GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Qatar Open in Doha, ar- guably gave the two finalists the edge over their illustrious rivals. 8

REVERSAL AND REPEAT NEWS - NEWS • Meanwhile, in the opposite half of the draw, at the semi-final stage Jean-Michel Saive overcame Sweden’s Jan-Ove Waldner (11–6, 13–15, 11–8, 12–10), to reverse one memorable decision and repeat another.

In the inaugural ITTF Legends Tour tour- nament staged in Jemeppe-sur-Meuse,

last May, Jan-Ove Waldner had beaten MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE - Jean-Michel Saive in the final; however 20 years earlier Jean-Michel Saive had en- joyed what may be considered his greatest hour.

He beat Jan-Ove Waldner in Birmingham’s SEEKING REVENGE Wounded; in Halmstad, Jean-Michel Saive Indoor Arena in central England, to be had an extra motivation and most certain- anointed European champion. “I’ve prepared for this tournament be- ly he had taken the tournament very se- cause even if we enjoy being together, we riously. all want to win”, said Jean-Michel Saive. “Some 1,200 “I know that the other players consider spectators were that I was supposed to be the favourite be- cause I’m still fighting on the ITTF World WELL PREPARED present.” Tour but as you saw I lost in front of my own crowd in May.” “I wanted to get my revenge; to be fit and prepared for this event, I decided not to play the Belgium Championship for the first time in 32 years”, added Jean-Michel Saive. “After 25 Belgian titles, I preferred to focus on winning my first ITTF Legends Tour tournament.”

Simply the character of Jean-Michel Saive is underlined, he enjoys the battle, he en- joys the heat of competition. Will he ever change? I hope not.

TURNED BACK CLOCK

The win recorded by Jean-Michel Saive turned back the clock; it was same one round earlier when Jan-Ove Waldner played China’s .

He reversed the decision of the final of the Men’s Singles event at the 1987 Wor- ld Championships when he had lost to the man who at the time was the defending champion.

“It is amazing is to see so many kids co- ming and watch; this is also the target of the Tour and I’m glad for it”, said Jan-Ove Waldner. “On the sport point of view, I was so happy to play against Jiang Jialiang be- cause like many fans, the 1987 World final was a wonderful final; I wanted to play one more time against him.”

“…thank you for all the positive moments…” 9 NEWS - NEWS • THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

“Next time I’ll win!” RESULTS

Semi-finals PROMISE MADE Jörgen Persson 3-1 Defeat for Jiang Jialiang but clearly the Jean-Philippe Gatien man who celebrated his 51st birthday du- 11-9 10-12 11-6 11-6 / / / ring his stay in Sweden had enjoyed the experience and was delighted to re-kindle Jean-Michel Saive an old rivalry 3-1 Jan-Ove Waldner “Guys, I want to thank you for all the po- 11-6 13-15 11-8 12-10 / / / sitive moments we spend and share to- gether”, was the toast of Jiang Jialiang at the ensuing dinner. I must also admit that I’m your best fan! Finale

Furthermore, he made a promise. “Next Jean-Michel Saive 3-1 time I’ll win!” he concluded. Jörgen Persson 11-8 4-11 11-9 11-6 / / / SENSE OF SATISFACTION

Meanwhile, for Philippe Saive, all the time and effort had proved most worthwhile; the headmaster was proud of the occasion.

“When you look at the people, they are so happy to share these moments of emotion, nostalgia and respect for the history of our sport”, he reflected. We’ll“ work even har- der to make more events possible.”

A success, some 1,200 spectators were present. 10 NEWS - NEWS • THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

GAC GROUP WORLD TOUR, GERMAN OPEN, BREMEN (GER) - SUPER SERIES

CONFIDENCE BOOST DÜSSELDORF DECISION “This victory gives me massive confidence for the upcoming World Championships”, added Ma Long. “ will be one of REVERSED, MA LONG LEVELS my biggest rivals there, so knowing I can beat him gives me great belief that I can win my first ever Men’s Singles World Cham- DUELS ON GERMAN SOIL pionships title.”

Elevated to the top spot on the Men’s World Ranking earlier this PREVIOUS MEETINGS month as a direct result of his success in Kuwait; China’s Ma Long It was the 12th time that Ma Long and Zhang won his second GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Men’s Singles title of Jike had met in a World ranking event; it the year, when he emerged successful the German city of Bremen was the eighth time that Ma Long had won. nd on Sunday 22 March. Zhang Jike won the first meeting when they appeared in the Junior Boys’ Singles At the final hurdle he beat Chinese National Team compatriot,Zhang Jike, the no.2 seed, to event at the New Zealand Junior and Ca- secure the top prize. In a thrilling seven games duel, Ma Long recovered from a three games to one deficit secure victory (11-9, 7-11, 8-11, 14-16, 11-6, 14-12, 11-8).

BIG FIGHT

“It was an extremely close match, with every single point being a big fight”, said Ma Long. “The last time I played him in Germany I lost which was very disappointing, so I am happy that we are now one-one; this time I can go home happy.”

At the Liebherr 2014 Men’s World Cup staged in Düsseldorf; Zhang Jike had “…I had to calm down beaten Ma Long by the minimal two point and do the simple margin in the deciding seventh game (8-11, 11-4, 13-11, 7-11, 2-11, 11-5, 12-10). things well.…” 11

det Open in 2003. Ma Long then won the next five encounters before in more recent FULL DISTANCE DUEL STATUS PREVAILS, MA - NEWS times honours have been shared. • LONG AND ZHANG JIKE However, it was by no means a comfortable In addition to the recent success in Düssel- passage for Zhang Jike. dorf, Zhang Jike won when the met in the Men’s Singles final at the GAC Group 2012 BOOK FINAL PLACES, The Olympic and World champion needed ITTF World Tour Slovenian Open and one the full seven games to secure victory year later at the GAC Group 2013 ITTF Wor- GERMAN HOPES END (8-11, 11-8, 11-3, 11-5, 9-11, 6-11, 11-7). ld Tour Kuwait Open.

Conversely, Ma Long won at that Asian China’s Ma Long and Zhang MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE - Championships staged in Busan in 2012 Jike, the respective top two and at the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals. seeds in the Men’s Singles event at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour German Open APPEARANCES in Bremen, emerged success- ful at the semi-final stage on It was for Ma Long his 29th appearance in nd an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles event and the morning of Sunday 22 his 19th win; for Zhang Jike it was his ninth March. final, his fourth runners up spot.

Ma Long ended the hopes of the host na- “… although in tion by recovering from a two games to reality the balance nil deficit to beat Dimitrij Ovtcharov, the no.4 seed and defending champion (8-11, was in favour 9-11,11-6,11-8,11-4,11-4), before Zhang of Zhang Jike.” Jike booked his place in the final. He over- came colleague, , the no.6 seed.

MADE MISTAKES

“In the first game, I was leading 7-3 but I played in a hurry and ended up making a lot of mistakes”, said Ma Long. “In the second game, it was 9-9 and I lost, which can be normal in a tight game; when I was nil-two down, I had to calm down and do the simple things well.”

Seemingly, he did the simple things very well.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

It was the eleventh time that Ma Long and Dimitrij Ovtcharov had met on the interna- tional scene; it was the eleventh time that Ma Long had emerged successful.

However, previous contest between Yan An and Zhang Jike had resulted in two wins apiece, although in reality the balance was in favour of Zhang Jike.

Zhang Jike beat Yan An on the first two oc- casions that they met. He won on the ITTF World Tour in the Men’s Singles event at the Harmony China Open in 2011 and the 12 NEWS - NEWS • THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

Conversely for Dimitrij Ovtcharov it was At the final hurdle she beat the host na- “Mima Ito is 14 years his eighth Men’s Singles semi-final defeat tion’s (9-11, 13-11, 7-11, 11- and 152 days” in 19 appearances; for Yan An his fourth 7, 12-12, 12-10) in a contest that whatever loss in seven penultimate round visits. the outcome made history. following year in Slovenia. However, the most recent meeting had gone in favour of Yan An. He overcame Zhang Jike at the FIRST DEFEAT GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Korean RECORDS SET Air Korea Open. It was the first time that two qualifiers had WHATEVER THE contested an ITTF World Tour Women’s The duel in Korea was their fourth meeting Singles final; furthermore, had Petrissa in World ranking events; the one other was Solja won, she would have become the first earlier in 2013 when Zhang Jike had been OUTCOME, MIMA ITO player in the history of the ITTF World Tour forced to withdraw at the end of the third to win a a hat-trick of available titles. game of their quarter-final Men’s Singles BECOMES YOUNGEST encounter. Earlier in the tournament, she had won EVER WINNER the Under 21 Women’s Singles title and with had donned the Women’s Doubles crown; defeat was only expe- APPEARANCES rienced in her 15th and concluding match of In September 2011, when only the tournament. Meanwhile for Ma Long it was the 40th time ten years old, Mima Ito be- he had appeared in an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles semi-final, the 29th time he came the youngest ever player had won and progressed to the final; for to win a Junior Girls’ Singles SURPASSED Zhang Jike it was his 19th appearance in the penultimate round but for an Olympic title on the ITTF World Tour, Thus Mima Ito surpassed the achievement and World champion, only the ninth time when she emerged successful of China’s Guo Yue. had emerged successful. in Chinese Taipei. She who won the Women’s Singles title at the Japan Open in Kobe when 15 years and 66 Now less than four years later, Mima Ito days old. Mima Ito is 14 years 152 days old. is once again breaking records; on Sunday 22nd March she won the Women’s Singles title at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour German Open in Bremen and thus beco- YOUNGEST MAN mes the youngest ever winner in the histo- ry of the ITTF World Tour. The youngest winner of an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles title is China’s Yu Ziyang and again there is a Japanese connection.

“I am shocked and He was 16 years and 30 days old when he won in Yokohama at the GAC Group 2014 ecstatic to win such a ITTF World Japan Open. big title at my age.” 13

CLEAR AMBITIONS NEWS - NEWS • “I am shocked and ecstatic to win such a big title at my age”, said Mima Ito. “It’s just the be- ginning for me, I now need to continue playing at this high level and win many more titles.”

An outstanding performance but Mima Ito is clearly not prepared to rest on her lau- It was for both Mima Ito and Petrissa Solja, GUO YUE STILL YOUNGEST rels, she has clear goals. their first every meeting in a World ranking

event and their first appearance in an ITTF However, Mima Ito is not the youngest MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE - “I now want to qualify for the Japanese World Tour Women’s Singles final. player ever to reach a singles final on the team for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and ITTF World Tour; that record still belongs do well”, added Mima Ito. It will then give Shocks Continue Petrissa Solja and Mima to Guo Yue of China. Guo Yue was 14 years me the experience I need of realize my Ito Reach Women’s Singles Final and 130 days old when she was beaten in dream of gold in the singles and team event the Women’s Singles in Denmark on Sun- at my home Olympics, Tokyo 2020.” Against all expectations or perhaps judging day 24th November 2002 by her compatriot by the results of the previous two days to ; Mima Ito is 14 years and 152 be anticipated; the host nation’s Petrissa days. “…when Guo Yue won Solja and Japan’s Mima Ito emerged suc- in Japan in 2003, cessful at the semi-final stage of the Wo- However, if Mima Ito can win the title in men’s Singles event at the GAC Group 2015 Bremen, she will be the youngest ever; she was 15 years.” ITTF World Tour German Open in Bremen when Guo Yue won in Japan in 2003, she on Sunday 22nd March. was 15 years and 66 days old.

HOME SUPPORT Neither seeded; both players having been required to compete in the qualification Defeat for Petrissa Solja but most certainly rounds, Petrissa Solja beat China’s Gu QUALIFIERS she won the hearts and admiration of the Ruochen (11-6, 11-5, 11-9, 6-11, 7-11, 11- crowd for her efforts. Virtually Mima Ito 8) before Mima Ito overcame Singapore’s Two players who negotiated the qualifica- had to play two opponents! Feng Tianwei, the no.2 seed (13-11, 11-7, tion stage will contest the final; a scenario, 11-6, 11-7). to the best of my knowledge, that has never “The big crowd cheering for Solja did not happened in either a Men’s Singles or Wo- affect me”, added Mima Ito. “I just went Quite astounding results; even more men’s Singles event on the ITTF World. out and played my game, and stuck to my astounding when taken into consideration tactics; it was very cool to play in front of that fact that Petrissa Solja is only 21 years Furthermore, for Petrissa Solja it means all these people, and I can’t wait to do it old, having celebrated her birthday earlier she has reached all three possible finals. again.” this month, whilst Mima Ito is a mere 14 Two days earlier she won the Under 21 Wo- years of age. men’s Singles event and also she is in the final of the Women’s Doubles event with Shan Xiaona. 14 NEWS - NEWS • THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

“This is a dream STARTED WELL STILL DREAMING that I am in “I started the match very well; I was well “This is a dream that I am in a Super Series a Super Series final on top during the first three games”, said final in my home country; it is nice that all in my home Petrissa Solja. “I then lost the next two ga- my family and friends are here to watch the mes, as she changed her tactics.” best tournament of my life”, added Petris- country…” sa Solja. “I have now played 13 matches; A change of plan but Petrissa Solja found adrenaline is the only thing keeping going.” answers. BERLIN Furthermore, she has won all 13 matches! “In the sixth game, I managed to work out Such a situation has never arisen pre- how to counter these tactics; also I became viously on the ITTF World Tour where one too passive and I decided that I needed to player has reached all three possible finals. be more aggressive, which worked”, added Petrissa Solja. “At three-two and 8-all I felt In 2010 in Berlin China’s Feng Yalan won I had no pressure, as I was a game ahead both the Women’s Singles and Under 21 and she was the one that was on her final Women’s Singles events but with Mu Zi chance.” lost to Italy’s and in the concluding Wo- It was a situation where being so close the men’s Doubles preliminary round. finishing line, pressure can mount and the number 11 appears the hardest number of all to achieve; not in the case of Petrissa Solja, she afforded Gu Ruochen no more points. 15 - NEWS • THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

GAC GROUP WORLD TOUR, GERMAN OPEN, BREMEN (GER) - SUPER SERIES 16 NEWS - NEWS • THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

GAC GROUP WORLD TOUR, QATAR OPEN, DOHA (QAT) - SUPER SERIES TITLE REGAINED, ONCE AGAIN SERVICE Dimitrij Ovtcharov once again saved the game point. Throughout Vladimir Samso- VLADIMIR SAMSONOV SUCCEEDS nov had served with his forehand very much from the forehand side of the table towards the forehand of Dimitrij Ovtcharov.

IN QATAR, EXTENDS RECORD At 14-13 he reverted to a trademark backhand service, he served across the diagonal; the change brought success, a The winner in 2003, once again Vladimir Samsonov of Belarus strong first attack from the forehand and stood proudly on the top step of the podium in Doha. On the evening a three games to nil lead was established. of Sunday 22nd February in the splendours of the Aspire Complex, he won the Men’s Singles title at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Qatar Open beating Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov, the top seed at the final hurdle.

Occupying the fourth seeded position in the draw; a five games success was posted to close the curtain on the six day tournament (11-9, 11-8, 15-13, 6-11, 11-9).

CLOSE GAMES

Close games started proceedings, with Vladimir Samsonov emerging successful in the ope- ning two tense opening exchanges.

In the third game he established a four point lead but the gap was reduced to one point at 9-8; he called “Time Out”. He won the next point on his own service but then lost the next two; he held games points at 11-10 and 12-10, then again at 13-12. 17

RESPONSE NEWS - NEWS • Immediately Dimitrij Ovtcharov responded to win the fourth game but Vladimir Sam- sonov was not to be denied.

In the fifth game, he established a 7-3 lead; Dimitrij Ovtcharov, to his great cre- dit fought, he levelled at 9-all but at 10-9 it was match point to Vladimir Samsonov. THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE - The chance was taken; the Vladimir Sam- “I am really grateful The physiotherapist in question is Rosen sonov of the late 1990s was on show in Georgiev Aleksandrov, he is based at the Doha, the era when he stood at no.1 on the to him; he fixed me Aspire Complex where the tournament was World rankings; the title was secured with up perfectly.” staged and works only for the Qatar Table a high quality performance against a very Tennis Association. high quality opponent. COLLEAGUES GREAT TO WIN IMPORTANT STAGES “Dima and myself, we know each other so well, we both play for the same club Delighted with the treatment he received “I was down in the first game and won but in the Russian League”, added Vladimir and understandably delighted with the out- I think more importantly I was 4-8 behind Samsonov. “I wanted to win, I won in 2003 come. “I’m really happy, it’s great to have in the third game and won; that was the but I didn’t expect to win this year; Qatar is won”, concluded Vladimir Samsonov. crucial game in the match”, said Vladi- always a strong tournament and this year I mir Samsonov. “Serving I made changes played well from the very start.” A fine effort from Vladimir Samsonov and but the serve I used at the end of the third it was a fine effort from both finalists in the game was not very good, I served long to try manner they conducted themselves. to surprise him but the serve was too slow. PHYSIOTHERAPIST SUPERB Nevertheless it produced the desired re- sult; however there were some anxious Furthermore, he had some local help for SHAKE HANDS moments before victory was clinched. which he was extremely grateful. Two sportsman in the true sense compe- “In the fifth game when Dima caught up af- “I had some problems with my hip, I went ted; at the end of the contest it was a cor- ter I led 7-3 and 9-5, I did become nervous”, to see the physiotherapist here and he was rect handshake arms around each other in smiled Vladimir Samsonov who at 38 years outstanding”, continued Vladimir Samso- respect of each other’s talents. of age possessed the necessary experience nov. “I am really grateful to him; he fixed to deal with the tense situation. me up perfectly.” Great credit to Vladimir Samsonov and 18

She appeared in 31 ITTF World Tour Wo- In the third game Dimitrij Ovtcharov held men’s Singles Finals and won an incredible a lead but that was reduced to one point NEWS - NEWS

29 times! in his favour at 9-8. Sitting courtside, Jörg • Rosskopf, the German National Coach, called “Time Out”.

The break proved a wise move; Dimitrij DIMITRIJ OVTCHAROV Ovtcharov secured the next point and after one game point had been saved by Marcos AND VLADIMIR Freitas, it was success and a two games to one lead. SAMSONOV REACH MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE - MEN’S SINGLES FINAL PORTUGUESE SUPPORT

A boost for Dimitrij Ovtcharov, he captured Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov the fourth game with a degree of comfort and Vladimir Samsonov of Be- and continued in a positive manner to lead 9-6 in the fifth. Urged for a group of ardent larus were the players to suc- Portuguese fans in the crowd, Marcos Frei- ceed at the semi-final stage of tas recovered to win five points in a row to the Men’s Singles event at the reduce the match deficit to one game. GAC Group 2015 ITTF World However despite the best efforts of those Tour Qatar Open in Doha on the flying the Portuguese flag in the tiered seating there was to be no dramatic re- nd afternoon on Sunday 22 Fe- covery; to his credit, Dimitrij Ovtcharov bruary. re-grouped, mind, body and soul came to- gether, the sixth game and a place in the Dimitrij Ovtcharov, they upheld the best final was secured. values od table tennis, the best values of Impressive, Dimitrij Ovtcharov, the top sport; long may they grace the table tennis seed, accounted for Portugal’s Marcos arenas of the world. Freitas, the no.3 seed (11-2, 10-12, 11-9, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8), before Vladimir Samso- CLOSE GAMES nov followed suit. A contest full of entertaining top spin ral- RECORD Occupying the no.4 seeded position in lies; it was the same in the contest between the draw, he overcame Chinese Taipei’s Vladimir Samsonov and Chuang Chih- It was the 38th time that Vladimir Samso- Chuang Chih-Yuan, the no.2 seed (13-11, Yuan. nov had appeared in an ITTF World Tour 14-12, 11-5, 11-7). Men’s Singles final and the 27th time he had Vladimir Samsonov captured a close first won; it is a record no player can equal. game, in the second he saved game point before holding 13-12 lead; he elected for The nearest is China’s now retired Wang CONFIDENT START “Time Out”; it proved a wise move, he se- Liqin who appeared in 31 Men’s Singles fi- cured the next point and held a two games nals and won 21 times. Confident, Dimitrij Ovtcharov made the to nil lead. best possible start; he commanded the first However, if he is to match the record of game before Marcos Freitas responded to Zhang Yining, Vladimir Samsonov must clinch a close second game. continue practising and competing. ABSORBED TOP SPIN ATTACKING PLAY

Two close games, playing in his trade- mark elegant manner, Vladimir Samsonov secure the third game with a degree of comfort being able to absorb the fast at- tacking play from Chuang Chih-Yuan and turn to his advantage.

Now very much in the ascendancy and in control, Vladimir Samsonov established a 6-3 lead in the fourth game.

Chuang Chih trying to move around his backhand to execute a forehand top spin stroke was caught off balance on more 19 NEWS - NEWS • THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

than one occasion; at 1-7 he held three ternational scene in 2004 when Chuang match points. He needed just one opportu- Chih-Yuan had emerged successful but nity; a place in the final was seized. since that date the balance has been with UPSETS SEEDING, Vladimir Samsonov. He had won six of the next nine meetings. CLINCHES QATAR HISTORY FAVOURED DIMITRIJ However, on the most recent occasion that the two had met, the ZEN-NOH 2014 ITTF WOMEN’S SINGLES OVTCHAROV World Team Championships, Chuang Chih- Yuan had prevailed in six games. CROWN IN STYLE Prior to the contest in Doha, the odds were heavily stacked in favour of Dimitrij Ovtcha- rov; he had played Marcos Freitas on four previous occasions in World ranking events APPEARANCES Maintaining the very best tradi- and he had won on all four meetings. tions of Romanian excellence, Overall it was for Vladimir Samsonov no Notably he had beaten Marcos Freitas just less than his 47th appearance in a Men’s Elizabeta Samara won the Wo- over two weeks earlier when the pair met Singles ITTF World Tour semi-final; pre- men’s Singles title at the GAC in the final of the Men’s event at the NN viously he had emerged successful on 37 Table Tennis Club 2015 Europe Top 16; he occasions, a quite remarkable record. Group 2015 ITTF World Tour won in a seven games duel. Qatar Open in Doha on the eve- Meanwhile, for Chuang Chih-Yuan he was ning of Sunday 22nd February. Prior to that meeting; in 2005 Dimitrij competing in his 28th such contest; prior to Ovtcharov had emerged successful in their Doha, he had been victorious in the penul- Boys’ Singles duel at the World Junior timate round 14 times. Championship, before once again being victorious when they met in the final of the Men’s Singles event in 2011 at the Brail Open. The one further engagement had been at the Liebherr 2012 World Team Championships in Dortmund when in Dimi- trij Ovtcharov had prevailed in five games.

FAMILIAR FOES

Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Marcos Freitas were no strangers to either other; neither were Vladimir Samsonov and Chuang Chih-Yuan. They had first met on the in- 20

Furthermore, she caused somewhat of a mara, who was very much in the ascendan- surprise to arrest the coveted title. cy. Positive when the occasion demanded, NEWS - NEWS

Elizabeta Samara surrendered just one • Occupying the no.7 seeded position in the more point to secure the third game; she competition; she upset the order of merit was honing in on victory. by beating Germany’s , the no.3 seed at the final hurdle. Impressively,Eli - zabeta Samara succeeded in four straight games 11-6, 12-10, 11-6, 11-9). SECOND ROUND NOT REPEATED

It was to some extent in the first three

games, the second round match against MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE - CONFIDENT Monaco’s Yang Xiaoxin repeated. On that occasion, Han Ying had lost the first three Displaying a confident approach against games and trailed 4-8 in the fourth; incre- the defensive skills of Han Ying, Elizabeta dibly she recovered to secure a seven ga- Samara secured the first two games, the mes success. second after trailing 6-9. Patience was a hallmark of the Romanian’s efforts as she Against Elizabeta Samara it was to be a waited for the opportunity, not trying to different story; after a series of energy blast her opponent into the desert sands. sapping long rallies, at 10-7 in the fourth game, Elizabeta Samara held three match Experienced words proved invaluable as However, when the chance arose, she was points. the match neared its zenith. unrelenting and was not going let the prey off the hook. Han Ying, refusing to concede fought, more “I was ahead 10-7 then I lost the next two long rallies; she won the next two points, points”, added Elizabeta Samara. “My Elizabeta Samara called “Time Out”. It coach told me to be calm, to relax and not proved a wise move; she won the next point to panic.” TIME FOR ADVICE and celebrated, thev title was in Romanian hands. The advice from Viorel Filimon was heeded, In the third game, she established a 7-5 as was his tactical advice. lead, on occasions forcing Han Ying to at- tack as authority on the situation was gra- dually exerted. A crucial stage of the match IMPORTANT GAMES had been reached, Jie Schöpp, the Head DIRECTION IMPORTANT Coach of the German Women’s Team, sit- “Winning the second game after being 6-9 ting courtside in the role of advisor, called down was very important as was winning “I focused my attentions on playing towards “Time Out”. the fourth”, said Elizabeta Samara. ”I must her forehand and to the middle”, explained admit that in the fourth game I was afraid Elizabeta Samara. “If I played towards her Advice was administered but equally there because of the match against Yang Xiaoxin backhand I could not read the spin on the was advice from the vastly experienced when Han Ying had come back from three ball and I made mistakes.” Viorel Filimon for the in-form Elizabeta Sa- games to nil behind; it was in my mind.” 21

Notably, Han Ying uses short pimpled ru- bber on the backhand as opposed to long

MEN RESULTS - NEWS pimpled rubber. It enables her to vary the • amount of backspin when returning the ball. Quarts de finale

Dimitrij Ovtcharov 4-3 MILESTONE Jung Youngsik 11-8 5-11 11-4 9-11 11-13 12-10 11-2 The tactics designed reaped dividends and for Elizabeta Samara the win was a miles- Marcos Freitas tone. It was the first time she had beaten 4-2 MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE - Han Ying. 11-9 11-5 11-8 9-11 7-11 11-9 / “I’d played Han Ying twice before; in the Team event at European Championships Vladimir Samsonov in Shwechat and then in the European 4-1 Champions League”, continued Elizabeta Joao Monteiro Samara. “At the European Championships 8-11 11-9 11-6 11-9 11-8 / / I had match point when leading two-one; in the same year in the European Champions Chuang Chih-Yuan League, I had no chance.” 4-3 7-11 10-12 11-7 16-14 6-11 11-6 11-5 THIRD TITLE

It was the second time that Elizabeta Sa- Demi-finales mara had appeared in an ITTF World Tour Women’s Singles final, pertinently it was Dimitrij Ovtcharov 4-2 the third time she had won, the previous Marcos Freitas victories were in 2013 in Santos and last 11-2 10-12 11-9 11-6 9-11 11-8 / year in the Czech Republic.

Vladimir Samsonov However Doha was special, just as beating 4-0 Han Ying was a milestone, so was winning Chuang Chih-Yuan in Qatar; it was her first Super Series title. 13-11 14-12 11-5 11-7 / / /

WOMEN RESULTS Finale Vladimir Samsonov 4-1 Dimitrij Ovtcharov Demi-finales 11-9 11-8 15-13 6-11 11-9 / / Han Ying 4-3 Feng Tianwei 6-11 8-11 11-7 12-10 11-7 5-11 12-10

Elizabeta Samara 4-1 Yang Haeun 11-5 10-12 11-7 11-6 11-5 / /

Finale

Elizabeta Samara 4-0 Han Ying 11-6 12-10 11-6 11-9 / / / 22 NEWS - NEWS • THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

GAC GROUP WORLD TOUR, KUWAIT OPEN, KUWAIT CITY (KUW) - SUPER SERIES

rio, dominated the second game; no doubt stung by the fact of having missed HOME OF FIRST NOW HOME OF the opportunity in the first.

MOST RECENT, MA LONG WINS STUNG INTO ACTION

If losing the first game had stung Xu Xin, AGAIN IN KUWAIT losing the second game stung Ma Long. He afforded Xu Xin just one point! Successful in Kuwait in 2007, when he beat compatriot Ma Lin in the final to win his first ever ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles title; once SUPPORTING THEORY again, eight years later, Ma Long enjoyed success in the Gulf State. The scores in the second and third games Occupying the second seeded position in the draw, on the early evening of Sunday 15th Fe- very much supporting another theory that bruary at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Kuwait Open, he beat Xu Xin, the top seed when a Chinese player gains a two or three (13-11, 3-11, 11-1, 11-7, 11-9) to collect his 18th such title in 28 finals. point lead they are unstoppable; the tech- nique is so well honed that with the ad- Furthermore, you can add to the list three ITTF World Tour Grand Final Men’s Singles titles, vantage they are relaxed and thus the level never losing in the gold medal contest and the record is quite prodigious. rises a few degrees.

GOOD SHAPE

“Today I was feeling in good shape; I know Xu Xin has changed the rubber on his racket so he was not at his best today”, said Ma Long. “The win today is for me another step towards Suzhou but now I will take a few days off for Chinese New Year.”

The city of Suzhou will host the QOROS 2015 World Championships from Sunday 26th April to Sunday 3rd May.

TENTATIVE START

A comprehensive win for Ma Long but it was a quite tentative start. The first two games were shared with Ma Long winning a close opener after Xu Xin had held one game point. Win a close game and confidence blossoms; the phrase has been uttered time and time again.

However in the splendid surroundings of the Salwa Club, it was quite the reverse scena- 23

In the concluding contest in the morning session of play it was defeat for the rei- NEWS - NEWS

gning Men’s Singles champion. •

Once again in all-Chinese semi-finals; , the no.3 seed was beaten by Ma Long, the no.2 seed (11-7, 11-8, 11-8, 9-11, 11-8); the result coming immediately after Xu Xin, the top seed, had overcome Zhang Jike, the no.4 seed (6-11, 11-4, 11-5, 11-5, 11-4). THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE - Ma Long and Fan Zhendong brought the Men’s Singles semi-finals to a conclu- sion but it was Xu Xin and Zhang Jike who started the itinerary.

IMMEDIATE RESPONSE

The first two games in the semi-final were shared, Zhang Jike secured the first in an impressive manner, Xu Xin responded im- mediately to win the second, before adding the third; the long raking forehand exerted by the tall left hander proving ever more potent.

Xu Xin was the dominant player, in the fourth game he established a 4-2 lead; Zhang Jike called “Time Out”; the Olympic and World champion was below his best, he was not moving well.

In the fourth game, neither player was able Once again Ma Long was the champion in BACK PROBLEM to establish an early advantage until the Kuwait. score reached 4-all; Ma Long won the next One day earlier after beating Portugal’s two points and then extended the lead to 8-4. Marcos Freitas in their quarter-final en- counter, Zhang Jike complained of pain in Endorsing the unstoppable theory, at 10-6 the lower part of his back; it appeared to be he held four game points, he needed just FAN ZHENDONG troubling him. one; a three games to one lead was esta- blished. FOLLOWS SUIT, He was making mistakes returning service and was not playing in the fluent manner to MA LONG AND XU XIN which we have become accustomed. ASSUMED ASCENDANCY BOOK FINAL PLACES A two games advantage, Ma Long was very much in the ascendancy; he was the more dominant player. He was the first to seize Defeat for the defending cham- the advantage and nullify the long explosive pion in the opening contest on forehand top spin stroke of his adversary. the concluding day of play, Sun- He established a 9-7 lead, he was nearing day 15th February, at the GAC the finishing line; he elected for“Time Out”. Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Kuwait Open when TITLE SECURED was beaten by her compatriot , at the semi-final The next two points were shared. At 10-8, stage of the Women’s Singles Ma Long held two match points; a lethal Xu Xin forehand saved the first but not the se- event. cond, it was gold for Ma Long. 24

IN CONTROL NEWS - NEWS • Comfortably, Xu Xin secured the fourth game.

Zhang Jike followed a policy of staying close to the table in the fifth game in an ef- fort to give Xu Xin minimal time to expound his long stroke. It was to no avail, he could not stop Xu Xin; simply one player was in a thoughts and break the momentum which eight appearances that he had suffered a

rhythm, one was not. Fan Zhendong was starting to establish. penultimate round defeat. MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

Totally dominant Xu Xin secured the fifth It proved a wise move. Ma Long won the next game; a place in the final was reserved. point; he held a three games to nil lead. SECURE EARLY LEAD FOUND ANSWERS TENTH TOUR WOMEN’S A comprehensive win for Xu Xin; for Ma Once again, as in the previous game, Ma Long it was very much the same. Long seized the early advantage; Fan SINGLES TITLE BUT Zhendong looked puzzled, quizzical as he Safe and secure from the backhand, dy- searched for answers. FIRST IN KUWAIT namic from the forehand; Ma Long cap- tured the first two games of the semi-final He found answers, aggressive from the contest. Quite simply once Ma Long had the backhand he recovered from a 6-9 deficit to Olympic and World champion, opportunity the exercise his devastating fo- secure the fourth game. Li Xiaoxia added another title rehand top spin stroke, the point was as- sured in his favour. to her collection in the Salwa Club on the afternoon of Sun- Fan Zhendong, who in recent times has do- RECOVERY THWARTED th minated adversaries with his sheer power, day 15 February. was receiving a taste of his own medicine. Alas for Fan Zhendong it was not to signal a memorable recovery; Ma Long was not Approaching her best form and at times to be denied. At 10-8 in the fifth game Ma displaying her very best form, she won the Long held match point; he was not to be Women’s Singles title at the GAC Group TIME OUT CALL denied. 2015 ITTF World Tour Kuwait Open.

In the third game, Ma Long established a It was for Ma Long no less than his 39th Occupying the third seeded position in the clear lead; at 10-5 he held five game points, appearance in an ITTF World Tour Men’s competition, she beat Chinese National Team Fan Zhendong won the next three points. Singles semi-final. It was his 28th success; colleague, Ding Ning, the top seed, at the fi- Ma Long called “Time Out” to gather his for Fan Zhendong it was the third time in nal hurdle (11-5, 11-8, 11-4, 8-11, 11-5). 25

DIFFERENT PLAYER NEWS - NEWS • Most certainly it was a much different Li Xiaoxia on duty than had been witnessed at the Women’s World Cup some four months earlier in the Austrian city of Linz, when she had been beaten in four straight games in the final by Ding Ning.

In Kuwait there was a much more positive

nature in her approach; creating angles MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE - from the backhand, whilst gaining success after success by executing her powerful fo- rehand top spin faded wide to the Ding Ning forehand.

DOMINANT “It’s only a few days ago that I was really MEN RESULTS She dominated the first two games, time able to practise properly; as the tourna- and again Ding Ning being forced into the ment progressed I felt I was playing better passive mode. and better”, added Li Xiaoxia. “Of course I Quarts de finale am focused on Suzhou and hope to achieve Leading by three games to nil, in the fourth a good result there.” Xu Xin 4-0 game Li Xiaoxia made the better start; to- Jung Youngsik tally dominant, forcing comparatively weak The city of Suzhou will host the QOROS 11-6 12-10 11-8 11-7 / / / returns of service from Ding Ning and then 2015 World Championships from Sunday attacking quickly over the table, Li Xiaoxia 26th April to Sunday 3rd May. Zhang Jike won the first four points. 4-3 Marcos Freitas Surely Ding Ning would call “Time Out” 9-11 11-8 9-11 11-8 9-11 11-6 11-4 somewhat unexpectedly she refrained from NEW CROWN the idea of a break. She won the next three th Fan Zhendong points and then proceeded to level matters Success for Li Xiaoxia, it was her 10 ITTF 4-2 at 6-all, before securing a one point lead World Tour Women’s Singles title in 16 ap- Chuang Chih-Yuan at 7-5. Eventually she lost just three more pearances in a final but her first in Kuwait. 9-11 11-7 9-11 11-6 11-8 11-8 / points before securing the game to reduce the arrears. Ma Long 4-0 WOMEN RESULTS Lee Sangsu HOPE EXTINGUISHED 11-5 11-6 11-4 11-5 / / /

There was a ray of hope for Ding Ning but it Demi-finales Demi-finales was soon extinguished. Li Xiaoxia took an early lead in the fifth game; as in the pre- Ding Ning Xu Xin 4-3 4-1 vious three games, Ding Ning experienced Zhu Yuling Zhang Jike problems controlling the Li Xiaoxia ser- 6-11 11-8 11-4 1-11 5-11 11-6 11-4 6-11 11-4 11-5 11-5 11-4 / / vice; whilst also, as before, the fast faded forehand wide to the Ding Ning forehand Li Xiaoxia Ma Long reaped dividends. 4-1 4-1 Fan Zhendong A lead was established, it was never relin- 9-11 11-7 11-2 11-8 11-9 / / 11-7 11-8 11-8 9-11 11-8 / / quished, at 10-5 it was match point, Cham- pionship point; it was duly converted.

Finale Finale

Li Xiaoxia Ma Long BACK INJURY 4-1 4-1 Ding Ning Xu Xin “I’ve not been able to practise for the past 11-5 11-8 11-4 8-11 11-5 / / 13-11 3-11 11-1 11-7 11-9 / / two months, I have had a back injury”, ex- plained Li Xiaoxia who was a member of the Chinese outfit earlier in the year in Ja- nuary at the World Team Cup in Dubai but never played in any contest. 26 NEWS - NEWS • THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

ITTF-EUROPEAN TOP 16 CUP, BAKU (AZE) DIMITRIJ OVTCHAROV STRIKES GOLD IN BAKU, SILVER MEDAL FOR DEFENDING CHAMPION

A surprise penultimate round defeat at the hands of Denmark’s Michael Maze one year ago, when the tournament was staged in “However, both were Lausanne, Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov made no mistake one stretched to the year later at the NN Table Tennis Club 2015 Europe Top 16 in Baku, limit, both had to Azerbaijan. survive exacting

On the evening of Sunday 8th February, occupying the top seeded position in the competition, moments.” he beat Portugal’s Marcos Freitas, the second seed and defending champion, to secure the title. In a tense final, Dimitrij Ovtcharov recovered from three games to one deficit to record Furthermore, the semi-final duel against a seven games victory (10-12, 11-7, 9-11, 8-11, 12-10, 11-7, 11-4). Panagiotis Gionis of Greece, the fifth seed, had been a tense seven games duel (10-12, 11-6, 14-16, 11-4, 10-12, 11-4, 11-8).

TENSE MATCHES “It was especially difficult in the final after the tough semi-final against Panagiotis”, “Actually I was not playing badly, I was in the lead in first game but when I lost it, it gave continued Dimitrij Ovtcharov. “The main advantage to Marcos; I had a game point”, said Dimitrij Ovtcharov. “Marcos played very well task for me was to calm down and to pre- today and I had to give my best.” pare myself for final.” 27

MEN’S WORLD CUP PLACE NEWS - NEWS BOOKED •

Defeat at the semi-final stage for Panagio- tis Gionis but in his concluding contest of the tournament he beat Frenchman, Simon Gauzy, the no.11 seed (5-11, 11-7, 4-11, 10- 12, 12-10, 11-8, 11-1).

The win means he secures his place in the MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE - Liebherr Men’s World Cup to be staged later in the year in the Swedish city of Halmstad. lasting no less than 77 minutes and having AFFECTED CONCENTRATION a moment of controversy than ended in a Players finishing in the top three places at moment of sportsmanship. Undoubtedly it was a most sporting gesture the NN Table Tennis Club 2015 Europe Top from Panagiotis Gionis to award the point 16 automatically qualify for the NN Table The controversy came in the seventh game to his opponent but seemingly it had a ma- Tennis Club 2015 Europe Top 16. with the scores level at 7-all. “I stopped jor effect on the outcome. because Panagiotis played a double hit”, explained Dimitrij Ovtcharov. “For sure it completely blew my focus, I am a defender and I need time to settle GOAL However the officials believed the return into rhythm”, explained Panagiotis Gionis. had been good and gave the point to Pana- “We had a break that lasted for seven mi- “My first goal was to reach the quarter-fi- giotis Gionis; both players agreed it was a nutes and after that I lost three easy points; nal but when I saw the draw and Tiago double hit, Panagiotis Gionis indicated that before that I had played one of my best Apolonia was there, I thought I can go fur- the point should be awarded to Dimitrij matches.” ther”, explained Panagiotis Gionis. At the Ovtcharov. quarter-final stage, he beatTiago Apolo- nia, the fourth seed, in six games (2-11, 11- 8, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9, 11-9). HARD FOUGHT SEMI-FINAL SEIZED INITIATIVE “I won and of course instantly started A tough semi-final contest for Panagiotis thinking of World Cup”, continued Pana- Panagiotis Gionis levelled at 5-all but then Gionis, it was the same for Marcos Freitas giotis Gionis. “I am so happy that I will Dimitrij Ovtcharov seized the initiative to against Simon Gauzy, a full distance seven leave Baku with that ticket.” move ahead 8-5, eventually winning the game 11-8.

“I won my games easily and each game CONTROVERSY AND won by Panagiotis was very close”, said Di- mitrij Ovtcharov. “He played perfectly and SPORTSMANSHIP seized each and every opportunity.”

Places secured and especially for Dimi- trij Ovtcharov and Panagiotis Gionis, they “I am so happy that were hard fought places; their semi-final I will leave Baku with duel which went the full seven games (10- 12, 11-6, 14-16, 11-4, 10-12, 11-4, 11-8) that ticket.” 28

games success being the outcome (13-11, eventually overcame Frenchman Simon 8-11, 7-11, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6, 11-7). Gauzy by a similar margin (13-11, 8-11, COLLEAGUES NEWS - NEWS

7-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-7). • “Simon played very aggressively, I was not A contest between two players from the up to my best, I suffered from the lack of same national association is always difficult concentration, I was not moving the way I “… I had to give to predict; however the result went as sta- want and generally I was not playing very my best.” tus and national team selection suggested, well”, said Marcos Freitas. “Simon was at the top of his game always a step ahead of me; at the end the most important thing is that I won, even when I am not happy with

my performance.” MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

SECOND WIN

A place in the final booked but the title was not to be retained; the top step of the po- dium belonged to Dimitrij Ovtcharov for the second time in his career.

He won the Europe Top 12 in Villeurbanne in 2012; three year later he was the cham- pion again.

Favourites Survive, Final Places Booked in Tension Packed Atmosphere

Germany’s Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Portu- Notably at the TMS 2014 European Team gal’s Marcos Freitas, the respective top two AND PETRISSA SOLJA Championships in Lisbon, Petrissa Solja seeds in the Men’s event at the NN Table was selected alongside Han Ying and Shan Tennis Club 2016 Europe Top 16 in Baku, SUCCEED Xiaona for the final against Austria. Azerbaijan, emerged successful in their semi-final duels on the afternoon of Sun- Meanwhile in the counterpart Women’s Perhaps somewhat surprisingly, despite day 8th February. event, it was success for Austria’s Liu Jia, the fact both are regular competitors on the top seed and Germany’s Petrissa Solja, the GAC Group ITTF World Tour, it was the However, both were stretched to the limit, the no.9 seed. first time that Petrissa Solja and Irene both had to survive exacting moments. Ivancan had met in a World Ranking event. Liu Jia beat of the Netherlands, the Dimitrij Ovtcharov recorded a seven ga- no.4 seed (11-7, 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-13, It was not the scenario in the other three mes win over Panagiotis Gionis of Greece, 11-5); Petrissa Solja beat compatriot Irene duels; with in each instance the result the no.5 seed (10-12, 11-6, 14-16, 11-4, Ivancan, the no.11 seed (11-9, 13-11, 11-7, being as history advised and in the case of 10-12, 11-4, 11-8), before Marcos Freitas 13-11). Liu Jia very pertinent history. 29

CLOSEST OF ALL NEWS - NEWS • Equally Dimitrij Ovtcharov and Marcos Freitas had never suffered defeats against the penultimate round adversaries in Wor- ld ranking event.

Dimitrij Ovtcharov had played Panagiotis Gionis on three previous occasions and had only conceded one individual game; the

duel in Baku was the toughest of them all. MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

In the Men’s Team event at the Liebherr 2010 European Championships and at the Liebherr 2012 European Championships, Dimitrij Ovtcharov had won in three straight games; in the Men’s Singles event at the 2010 Polish Open he won in five games.

HARD FOUGHT DUELS

Comfortable wins prior to the NN Table Tennis Club 2016 Europe Top 16 for Dimi- trij Ovtcharov against Panagiotis Gions; not for Marcos Freitas in his three prior contests in opposition to Simon Gauzy.

In the Men’s Singles event at the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Qatar Open, Marcos Freitas had succeeded in a full distance se- ven games duel. One year later at the GAC Group 2014 ITTF World Tour Kuwait Open, he had prevailed in six games, whilst in their most recent meeting at the ZEN-NOH 2014 World Team Championships it had been a three games to one success.

LAUSANNE REPEATED in the year at the semi-final stage of the Women’s Singles event at the Polish Open, LEAVE HEAD HELD HIGH Liu Jia had played Li Jiao on five previous oc- she succeeded in seven games, before casions, on each occasion she had prevailed; once again, six years later at the Liebherr Again at the NN Table Tennis Club 2016 the most recent being at the same stage one 2012 World Team Championships needing Europe Top 16 it was a hard fought duel, year ago at the DHS 2014 Europe Cup. five games to ensure victory, defeat for Simon Gauzy but he could leave Baku with head held high; a semi-final fi- On that occasion Liu Jia won in six games The only more comfortable win for Liu Jia nish on debut was a siperb performance. (11-4, 11-7, 8-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-4); one came at Liebherr 2013 European Cham- year later the result was repeated. pionships in the Women’s Team event she won in three straight games. Liu Jia won in three The only difference being on that occasion, straight games in the Women’s Team contest. the outcome was an upset; Li Jiao was the top seed, Liu Jia was the no.5 seed.

FULL DISTANCE CONTESTS

Six games contests on both occasions, it is a reflection of the history between the two players. The first three engagements in a World ranking event all went to Liu Jia and all in full distance affairs.

At the Liebherr 2006 World Team Cham- pionships, Liu Jia won in five games. Later 30 NEWS - NEWS • THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

“… I did not want to ERROR FREE CLEVER PLAYER think about victory, It was an error free performance from Liu “Li Jiao is very clever player; it is always I just played point Jia who joked that she had played like a hard to play against her, it is never easy; for point.” machine. “I think Petrissa was a little bit she started to play risky and it paid of”, ex- nervous and on the other hand I played one plained Liu Jia who lost the fourth and fifth of my best matches here”, said Liu Jia. “It games. was the same as last year; I had very close matches here as well, the one against “I do not know what happened, I cannot LIU JIA FINDS BEST was the most difficult.” explain”, added Liu Jia. “It is good that I managed to slow down the game and to FORM TO RETAIN At the quarter-final stage, she had beaten regain the control in sixth game; that is the Kristin Silbereisen, the no.10 seed, by the important thing against Li Jiao, you have to very narrowest of margins (11-13, 11-4, slow her down otherwise she is very quick TITLE, SILVER AND 9-11, 11-9, 7-11, 11-9, 11-9) and dangerous.” BRONZE FOR GERMANY INVITATION ASSURED FAMILIAR OPPONENT The defending champion, Aus- tria’s Liu Jia, repeated her suc- An invitation to the 2015 Women’s World Li Jiao was well known to Liu Jia as was Cup later in the year is guaranteed for Liu to Petrissa Solja. cess of one year ago in Lau- Jia and Petrissa Solja; it is also assured for sanne, by winning the Women’s Irene Ivancan. “We have played so many times before and it is always close game, two points diffe- title at the NN Table Tennis Players finishing in the first three places rence almost always even I win or lose”, ex- Club 2015 Europe Top 16 on the at the NN Table Tennis Club 2015 Europe plained Petrissa Solja. “I could not eat this evening of Sunday 8th February. Top 16 gain invitations; the names of any morning, I slept very badly, I was thinking other players eligible will be advised once about the match; from the moment I gained Occupying the top seeded posi- all the continental tournaments have been a three-nil advantage I was trying to calm tion in the competition, Liu Jia concluded. down, I did not want to think about victory, I just played point for point.” accounted for surprise finalist, “It is great relief that I have secured the Germany’s Petrissa Solja, the place at the World Cup; now I do not have no.9 seed to secure the title to think if a place becomes available if someone does not accept the invitation”, THIRD TIME (11-3, 12-14, 11-8, 11-3, 11-9). said Irene Ivancan. “Also, after a very hard semi-final it is good that I could say goo- The thinking worked but in the final it was Defeat for Germany but there was success; dbye to the tournament with the victory.” defeat for Petrissa Solja at the hands of Liu Irene Ivancan, the no.11 seed, caused Jia, who claimed the title for a third time. somewhat of an upset by beating Li Jiao of At the semi-final stage,Irene Ivancan had In addition to her success last year, she the Netherlands, the no.4 seed (11-8, 6-11, suffered defeat at the hands of Petrissa won in Rennes in 2005. 11-9, 10-12, 11-8, 7-11, 11-2). Solja (11-9, 13-11, 11-7, 13-11); whilst Liu Jia had beaten Li Jiao (11-7, 11-8, 11-5, 7-11, 11-13, 11-5) 31

MEN RESULTS WOMEN RESULTS - NEWS •

Quarts de finale Demi finales

Panagiotis Gionis Liu Jia 4-2 4-2 Tiago Apolonia Li Jiao 2-11 11-8 7-11 11-6 11-9 11-9 / 11-7 11-8 11-5 7-11 11-13 11-5 /

Simon Gauzy Solja Petrissa MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE - 4-3 4-0 Robert Gardos Ivancan Irene 5-11 11-13 9-11 11-9 11-0 11-6 11-7 11-9 13-11 11-7 13-11 / / /

Dimitrij Ovtcharov Match pour la 3ème place 4-0 Adrien Mattenet Ivancan Irene 11-9 14-12 11-6 11-7 / / / 4-3 Li Jiao 11-8 6-11 11-9 10-12 11-8 7-11 11-7 Marcos Freitas 4-3 Joao Monteiro Finale 9-11 6-11 12-10 11-3 11-7 10-12 11-8 Liu Jia 4-1 Solja Petrissa Demi finales 11-3 12-14 11-8 11-3 11-9 / / Dimitrij Ovtcharov 4-3 Panagiotis Gionis 10-12 11-6 14-16 11-4 10-12 11-4 11-8

Marcos Freitas 4-3 Simon Gauzy 13-11 8-11 7-11 11-9 9-11 11-6 11-7

Match pour la 3ème place

Panagiotis Gionis 4-3 Simon Gauzy 5-11 11-7 4-11 10-12 12-10 11-8 11-1

Finale

Dimitrij Ovtcharov 4-3 Marcos Freitas 10-12 11-7 9-11 8-11 12-10 11-7 11-4 32 NEWS - NEWS • THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

GAC GROUP WORLD TOUR, HUNGARIAN OPEN, BUDAPEST (HUN) - CHALLENGE SERIES SEVEN YEAR WAIT OVER, JIANG TIANYI SECURES MEN’S SINGLES TITLE IN HUNGARY

Quarter-finalist at the London 2012 Olympic Games when beaten by SUCCESS ELUSIVE the champion elect, China’s Zhang Jike; Hong Kong’s Jiang Tianyi Success in Men’s Doubles events in won the Men’s Singles title at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour partnership with compatriot , Hungary Open in Budapest on Sunday 1st February. have come his way but securing a place in the final of an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles event has proved elusive. Occupying the second seeded position in the draw, at the final hurdle he withstood a spirited recovery from Korea’s Jeong Sangeun, the third seed, to clinch the title. Since winning in Brazil, Jiang Tianyi has reached the quarter-final round on eleven Jiang Tianyi won in seven games (11-4, 11-9, 11-3, 10-12, 5-11, 10-12, 11-3). occasions, progressed to the semi-final four times but until the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Hungary Open, has never advanced beyond that point. IMPRESSIVE DEBUT Notably in recent times, reaching the latter It is only the second time, since making his debut a decade ago at the Liebherr German Open stages has proved significantly difficult; he in Magdeburg in November 2005 that he has won an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles title has not reached the round of the last eight since being a semi-finalist in Poland in ear- In Magdeburg, he made an impressive start, he won the Under 21 Men’s Singles title beating ly November 2012. Hungary’s Janos Jakab in the final; three years later at the Brazilian Open in Belo Horizonte he secured the Men’s Singles crown, accounting for Korea’s Kim Junghoon to secure gold. 33

TWICE RUNNER UP NEWS - NEWS • However, the win in Budapest is a first ITTF World Tour Women’s Singles gold after ha- ving twice been close to gold.

She was beaten in the final by Austria’sLiu Jia at the GAC Group 2012 ITTF World Tour Czech Open in Olomouc and last year at the same stage in Zagreb by Monaco’s Yang

Xiaoxin. MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

FOREHAND IMPORTANT

“Until now I had a second place only, so this Hungarian Open is memorable for me”, said Misako Wakamiya. “I think my strong point was my forehand which caused her problems.” RUNNER UP AGAIN miya secured the Women’s Singles title at the GAC Group Notably Misako Wakamiya uses short pim- Meanwhile, for Jeong Sangeun it was 2015 ITTF World Tour Hungary pled rubber on the forehand. his second career ITTF World Tour Men’s Open in Budapest on Sunday 1st Singles final and his second defeat; the previous occasion was in the Czech Repu- February. blic in early September 2012. JUNIOR SUCCESS Against the odds, occupying the no.13 On that occasion he was beaten in the final seeded position in the draw and current- The win at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World by Germany’s Christian Süss. ly listed at no.44 on the Women’s World Tour Hungary Open, to some extent mate- Rankings, she accounted for Hong Kong’s rialises the promise shown as a teenager. Lee Ho Ching, the no.3 seed and named at no.20 in the global order. Notably she won the Cadet Girls’ Singles ONE PREVIOUS MEETING title at the Asian Junior and Cadet Cham- Misako Wakamiya won in six games (12- pionships staged in New Delhi in 2004, It was the second time that Jiang Tianyin 10, 11-9, 8-11, 11-8, 10-12, 16-14) to add to whilst five years later once again showed and Jeong Sangeun had met in an inter- earlier ITTF World Tour success. her liking for that part of the world. She national tournament; the one previous won the Girls’ Singles title at the Indian occasion was at the KRA 2010 Korea Open Junior and Cadet Open in Goa in 2009. in Incheon in the first round of the Men’s Singles event. WOMEN’S DOUBLES SUCCESS

On that occasion Jiang Tianyi won in six Previous ITTF World Tour success has FIRST APPEARANCE games (9-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-6, 11-13, 11-9); come in Women’s Doubles events, where five years later in Budapest he won again. her left handed top spin attacking skills It was Lee Ho Ching her first ever ap- have complemented right handed partners. pearance in an ITTF World Tour Women’s Doubles final; it was the first time that the She has won on five occasions with Hiroko duo had met in an international tourna- AGAINST THE ODDS, Fujii and twice with Ai Fukuhara. ment. MISAKO WAKAMIYA WINS WOMEN’S SINGLES TITLE

Winner of the Girls’ Singles event eight years ago at the 2007 ITTF Junior Circuit Finals in the South African city of Cape Town, Japan’s Misako Waka- 34 NEWS - NEWS • THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

GAC GROUP WORLD TOUR, NIGERIA OPEN, LAGOS (NGR) - CHALLENGE SERIES OMAR ASSAR ADDS TO COLLECTION, TITLE DEFENDED SUCCESSFULLY IN NIGERIAN CAPITAL SECOND TIME It was the second time in an ITTF World Tour Men’s Singles final for Omar Assar and the second time he had emerged suc- Defending champion and recently crown African champion, Egypt’s cessful. Omar Assar added to his list of titles on Saturday 14th March in the One year ago in Lagos he beat colleague, splendid setting of The Sir Molade Okoya Thomas Indoor Sports El-Sayed Lashin in the final (11-5, 13-11, Hall. 2-11, 11-6, 11-8), after having overcome in the semi-final (11-5, 13- 11, 2-11, 11-6, 11-8). The second seed, playing in his trademark high intensity manner, he won the Men’s Singles event at the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Tour Lagos (Nigeria) Open. Suffering heartaches again for Quadri Aruna at the hands of Omar Assar but one At the semi-final stage he accounted for Portugal’s André Silva, the fourth seed, in four step higher on the medal podium and his straight games (11-8, 11-9, 11-3, 11-7), before securing the title at the final expense of the best ever finish to date on the ITTF World host nation’s Quadri Aruna, the top seed, in a six games contest (12-10, 13-15, 7-11, 11-8, Tour. 11-8, 11-8).

In the counterpart semi-final, Quadri Aruna had beaten compatriot Ojo Onaolapo in four straight games (13-11, 11-9, 11-5, 11-7). 35

EXUBERANT FANS NEWS - NEWS • “It was a difficult match for me because at the start of the match, I was disturbed by the noise from the fans”, said Omar Assar. “However, as the match progressed I ad- justed and I started playing normally and my tactics began to work.”

Gradually Omar Assar found his rhythm.

Dina Meshref in a full distance seven ga- MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE - “Also, it was a very tough match because mes encounter (11-7, 6-11, 9-11, 11-5, 10- Quadri has been in top shape in recent 12, 13-11, 11-8). times”, added Omar Assar. “He beat me in the team event at the recent Africa Senior At the semi-final stageShao Jieni had Championship in Cairo.” beaten Nigeria’s Olufunke Oshonaike (11- 5, 11-5, 13-11, 11-3); Dina Meshref had It was revenge for Omar Assar and delight. accounted for Offiong Edem, also from Ni- geria. “I am so happy that I was able to defend my title and having the record of winning it three times”, concluded Omar Assar. “… Quadri has been “Lagos is a good ground for me and I look in top shape in recent never progressed beyond the first round, forward to returning next year.” whilst the best for Olufunke Oshonaike times.” and Offiong Edem was a quarter-final exit In addition to winning in 2014, Omar Assar one year ago in Lagos. also succeeded in 2013 when the tourna- ment was known as the Lagos Internatio- CHANGED SERVICES Alas for Dina Meshref it was once again nal Classic.” so near yet so far; it was her second ever “It was a very hard match for me and it ITTF World Tour Women’s Singles final and was a high level game because Shao Jieni the second time she had been the runner changed service and this really confused up. In 2013 on home soil in Cairo she was SHAO JIENI STRIKES GOLD me”, said Dina Meshref. “It is always not beaten by Russia’s Maria Dolgikh at the fi- easy to beat a certain player three times; nal hurdle. Success for one recently anointed African she is very good.” champion, for another it was defeat.

Omar Assar’s compatriot, Dina Meshref, WOMEN’S DOUBLES the top seed, was beaten in the final of the PREVIOUS BEST Women’s Singles event by Portugal’s Shao Defeat at the hands of Shao Jieni but to- Jieni, a player who has excelled domesti- It was for Shao Jieni, Olufunke Oshonaike gether there was success. They secured cally but was not seeded in Lagos. and Offiong Edem their best ever finishes the Women’s Doubles title beating the host in a Women’s Singles event on the ITTF nation’s Cecilia Akpan and Offiong Edem in Shao Jieni, having lost to Dina Meshref World Tour. the final (13-11, 11-7, 13-15, 11-2). earlier in the tournament at the semi-final stage of the Women’s Singles event (11-6, Prior to the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World The silver medal for Nigeria in the Wo- 11-8, 11-8) extracted revenge; she beat Tour Lagos (Nigeria) Open, Shao Jieni had men’s Doubles event, in thre counterpart Men’s Doubles competition it was gold.

MEN’S DOUBLES

Quadri Aruna and Makanjuola Kazeem, who had emerged successful at the ITTF-Africa Championships earlier in the year struck gold.

They beat the Portuguese partnership of André Silva and Diogo Silva to claim the title (11-6, 11-8, 11-9). 36 NEWS - NEWS • THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

GAC GROUP WORLD TOUR, SPANISH OPEN, ALMERIA (ESP) - MAJOR SERIES

Japan won bronze, Maharu Yoshimura was not even included the squad, he did not STUNNING PERFORMANCE, even merit a place on the bench. Seemingly when the moon is in the right di- FROM MAHARU YOSHIMURA rection, Maharu Yoshimura can produce a level of play that belies his World Ranking. EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED OUTSTANDING RESULTS

Expect the unexpected, it was a phrase oft used to describe Swe- Currently he is listed at no.61 on the Men’s den’s one and only Jan-Ove Waldner, a legend in his own lifetime, World Rankings, his highest being earlier this year in January when he stood at no.57. who could predict what he may do next as his thought process and dexterity realised a touch of sheer genius? Never in the top 50, yet the 21 year, who won Junior Boys’ Singles titles on the ITTF Junior Circuit in 2011 in France and Korea, In a different manner, in the modern era, the same phrase can be applied to Japan’s Maharu whilst emerging successful in Under 21 Yoshimura; not that he may produce the sheer brilliance of the Swedish maestro but if the Men’s Singles competitions on the GAC mind is applied, he may conjure results that make the eyes blink. Group 2013 ITTF World Tour in Austria and Korea, can stun the aficionados in the tie- On Saturday 29th March, he did just that; he won the Men’s Singles title at the GAC Group red seating. 2015 ITTF World Tour Spanish Open, the first such title of his career having never previously advanced beyond the quarter-final stage.

COMPREHENSIVE WIN

Occupying the no.16 seeded position in the draw; he beat Hong Kong’s Wong Chun Ting, the no.11 seed, in four straight games to arrest the title (11-8, 11-7, 11-4, 11-6). The margin of victory simply sums up Maharu Yoshimura.

NO PLACE IN TOKYO

At the quarter-final stage of proceedings, Wong Chun Ting had beaten , before accounting for Kenta Matsudaira in the semi-final; both Kenta Matsudaira and Koki Niwa were selected alongside Jun Mizutani, time and time again, for the Japanese Men’s outfit at the ZEN-NOH 2014 World Team Championships in Tokyo. 37 NEWS - NEWS • THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

Crowned Asian Junior champion in New JEON JIHEE STRIKES Delhi in 2011, the following year he beat Jun Mizutani in the final of the Men’s GOLD IN SOUTHERN Singles event at the Japanese National Championships, before later in the year reaching the final of the GAC Group Asian SPAIN, ONCE AGAIN At the 2011 Morocco Hassan II Open, she Cup in Guangzhou. He was beaten China’s accounted for Sayaka Hirano in seven ga- Xu Xin in the final. BEATS SAYAKA HIRANO mes (11-6, 8-11, 7-11, 14-12, 8-11, 12-10, 11-4) to claim gold. Now three years later, against Wong Chun Ting, likewise playing in his first ever ITTF The no.13 may be considered World Tour Men’s Singles final, it was suc- unlucky in some parts of the cess in a tournament which is gaining a re- FURTHER SUCCESS putation for being the home for first time world, for Korea’s Jeon Jihee at champions. the GAC Group 2015 ITTF World Success against Sayaka Hirano in Rabat was to be the first of three meetings Tour Spanish Open in Almeria, between Jeon Jihee and Sayaka Hirano in on Sunday 29th March, that was World ranking events; Jeon Jihee won the FIRST TIME WINNER not to prove the situation. first, also she won the next two. The inaugural edition in 2011 saw Korea’s Oh She beat Sayaka Hirano in their third round Sangeun win the Men’s Singles title, the fol- Occupying the no.13 seeded position in the encounter in the Women’s Singles event at lowing year it was Chinese Taipei’s Chuang tournament; she beat Japan’s Sayaka Hira- the GAC Group 2013 ITTF World Tour Polish Chih-Yuan but since then the tournament no, the no.3 seed, at the final hurdle of the Open and more recently in October 2014 in has always realized a first time winner. Women’s Singles event to claim the title. the first stage of the Women’s Team com- petition at the Asian Games in Incheon. In 2013 it was Brazil’s Cazuo Matsumo- Impressively Jeon Jihee emerged success- to, one year ago it was England’s Paul ful in five games (11-5, 11-9, 3-11, 11-9, 11- Drinkhall; now it is Maharu Yoshimura. 5) to collect her second ITTF World Tour Wo- men’s Singles title in her second ever final. SECOND FINAL IN SPAIN

Meanwhile, for Sayaka Hirano it was her LOGICAL PROGRESS second appearance in a Women’s Singles REPEAT FINAL final on the ITTF World Tour in Spain, she What about next year? There is crumb of won in 2011 beating Hong Kong’s Jiang comfort for Wong Chun Ting. In 2014, he Furthermore, on her one other appearance Huajun in the final; overall it was her ninth was a semi-finalist; in 2015 it is one step in an ITTF World Tour Women’s Singles fi- ITTF World Tour Women’s Singles final ap- higher, the runner up. in 2016? nal, her victim in the gold medal contest pearance, the fourth time the runner up. was also Sayaka Hirano. Additional to the defeat in Morocco by Jeon Jihee, she was beaten in the final in Satia- go in 2007 by Jiang Huajun, two years later on home soil in Wakayama by Korea’s Park Miyoung.

Once again it was defeat at Korean hands, in Almeria by Jeon Jihee. 38 NEWS - NEWS • THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

ITTF-AFRICA CHAMPIONSHIPS, CAIRO (EGY) OMAR ASSAR ADDS TO MEDAL OPPORTUNITY MISSED An opportunity beckoned, it was not gras- ped and any hopes of Ahmed Ali Saleh ad- HAUL, GOLD SECURED ding to his list of gold medals at an Africa Senior Championships had evaporated in the Cairo night air.

ON HOME SOIL The fourth game was hard fought but the writing was on the wall, the inscription was on the trophy, it was that of Omar Assar. Crowned Men’s Singles champion at the All-Africa Games in Mapu- to in 2011; Egypt’s Omar Assar added and other title to his collec- tion on the late afternoon of Thursday 29th January. GREAT FEELING

He won the Men’s Singles event at the 2015 ITTF-Africa Senior Championships on home soil “Yes it is a very great feeling for me, I won in Cairo, accounting for Ahmed Ali Saleh, the only player ever to have donned the crown the African championship for the first time three times, at the final hurdle. and it was a big dream for me since I was a child”, said Omar Assar. “I started table Omar Assar won in four straight games (11-6, 11-9, 14-12, 11-8) to arrest the title. tennis in a small club here in Egypt and then moved to a bigger club and I watched Ahmed Saleh and Sayed Lashin playing and I didn’t imagine that I am going to play POWERFUL PERFORMANCE

Power was very much the order of the day in gaining success for the 23 year old, the long forehand top spin stroke becoming ever more potent as the match progressed.

Determined and relishing the challenge, Omar Assar made the better start, he won the first two games but then it seemed a recovery was in the offing.

The third game was pivotal to the whole contest. Omar Assar was in top gear, he established a 7-3 lead but experience entered the equation. Ahmed Ali Saleh, now 35 years old, won the next seven points to lead 10-3. 39 NEWS - NEWS • THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

against them in the final; it was a great day DINA MESHREF WINS IN here in Cairo.” CAIRO, ADDS TO TITLE It was a confident performance fromOmar Assar in the final, the win over Mohamed El-Beiali in the semi-final, the man who SECURED IN LAGOS one day earlier had beaten Nigeria’s Qua- dri Aruna, undoubtedly gave the champion elect an injection of self-belief. Winner at the 2014 ITTF-Afri- ca Top 16 in Lagos last June, “I have played against Mohamed since I was 15 years old in national and African when beating Nigeria’s Olufun- However, Dina Meshref did experience a Championships; I cannot speak too much ke Oshonaike in the final; the problem which was out of her own hands. about the tactics because we know each Zhang Coa Ling, the Egypt National Coach, other so well”, explained Omar Assar. “I host nation’s Dina Meshref won sitting courtside was sent off. put so much value for this match, if I could the Women’s Singles title at the win this much I knew I had a great chance 2015 ITTF-Africa Senior Cham- “I don’t think it made too great a difference, to be champion.” we had discussed the tactics before and I pionships in Cairo on the after- was clear what was needed”, continued noon of Thursday 29th January. Dina Meshref. “The most important fact was that I kept my concentration; certainly CLUBS CLASH this is one of the most important titles of Occupying the second seeded position in my career.” It was success for the El-Ahly Club against the draw, she accounted for Congo Braz- Zamalek and later in the evening, the Cai- zaville’s Han Xing at the final hurdle. ro Stadium hosted a top division football match between the two clubs. Impressively, she recovered from a two THREE GOLD MEDALS games to one deficit to post a four games Zamalek are currently top the table, the success (11-7, 3-11, 9-11, 11-9, 11-6, 11-5). Victory means that Dina Meshref departed match was drawn, one-all but in the Inter- the International Hall of Police Sport Asso- national Hall of Police Sport Association ciation, with three gold and one silver me- there was no doubt as to the winner; in that dal to her credit. venue it was El-Ahly, it was Omar Assar. SPECIAL TITLE Earlier in the tournament she was a member “I am very happy wining this title because of the successful Egyptian outfit in the Wo- this is a title that is not easy to win espe- men’s Team event, before securing the Mixed cially against a Chinese player”, said Dina Doubles title with Omar Assar and finishing Meshref. “It is special for me winning it in in runners up spot in harness with Nadeen Egypt with all the support from the local El-Dawlatly in the Women’s Doubles. people; today is also special for me.”

In the final, Dina Meshref made the better start but then experienced problems. COLLECTION COMPLETE

Furthermore, it means she has now every of ITTF-Africa Senior Championships tit- CHANGED SERVICE le to her name; in November 2012 on the most recent occasion the tournament was “I had problem in the second and third staged, also in Cairo, the Women’s Singles games because I was not serving well title was the only one to elude her grasp. but in the fourth game, I started serving with topspin into specific place not just The house is now full. anywhere”, added Dina Meshref. “It was vital to make those changes.” 40 NEWS - NEWS • THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

GAC GROUP WORLD TOUR, ASIA CUP 2015 XU XIN REGAINS CROWN THE CENTREPIECE A high class final to conclude proceedings but it was the victory of Feng Tianwei that BUT BUT DAY BELONGS was proved the centrepiece of the occasion. After totally dominating the fifth game, allowing Liu Shiwen just one point, it ap- TO FENG TIANWEI peared that matters would be levelled and a deciding seventh game would be nee- ded. In the sixth game, more positive than On the opening day of play at the GAC Group 28th Asian Cup 2015, in the previous, Liu Shiwen established a Singapore’s Feng Tianwei, even though the second seed, had 6-2 lead, a four point gap, surely it was too great to expect any player to close against caused an upset of note by beating China’s Zhu Yuling, the fourth an adversary of Liu Shiwen’s calibre? seed (11-7, 11-5, 11-5).

It was an upset because it was their ninth meeting and Feng Tianwei had lost the previous TIME OUT eight encounters! Feng Tianwei reduced the deficit to two Two days later, on the concluding day of action in the Indian city of Jaipur, Feng Tianwei points at 6-4; immediately and understan- caused another major upset, she beat Liu Shiwen, the top seed, in six games to arrest the dably, Yan Sen, the Chinese National Coach title (8-11, 11-8, 11-9, 7-11, 11-1, 12-10). sitting courtside, called “Time Out”.

The break worked but not for Liu Shiwen; equally Feng Tianwei had received sound RECOVERED FROM DEFICIT advice from Jing Jun Hong, she levelled at 6-all but at 10-9 Liu Shiwen held one point Defeat for China in the final of the Women’s event, by definition it had to be success for the to level matters. world’s premier nation in the sport of table tennis in the Men’s event. She was not to win another point; Feng Xu Xin, the top seed, recovered from a three games to one deficit to beat compatriot Fan Tianwei secured the next three, Singapore Zhendong, the second seed, to regain the title won two years ago in Hong Kong (11-8, 11-13, celebrated. 11-13, 5-11. 11-8, 11-4, 11-7). 41

NERVOUS NEWS - NEWS • “I never thought that I would win”, smiled Feng Tianwei. “In the sixth game I knew I had a chance, I wanted to win so much, I was so nervous.”

Feng Tianwei controlled her nerves; she won the game but did the words of resonate. THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE -

SINGAPOREAN NIGHTMARES

“Liu Shiwen has problems mentally playing against Singapore”, he said, after she had beaten Feng Tianwei by the very narrowest of margins in the Women’s Singles semi-fi- nal encounter at the GAC Group 2012 ITTF World Tour Grand Finals in Hangzhou (11- 6, 11-2, 11-7, 8-11, 9-11, 12-10, 11-9).

Does the memory of the Women’s Team final at the Liebherr 2010 Women’s World Championships in Moscow still haunt Liu Shiwen? She was beaten by Feng Tianwei in the vital fourth match of the contest against Singapore that secured the title for the south east Asian city state (11-7, 14-16, 11-7, 9-11, 11-7).

The title last won in Hong Kong was re- KEPT CALM gained, the player who had been beaten by Koki Niwa in the group stage of affairs and Pressure told in Moscow in 2010, arguably had only secured first place in the group on it told in Jaipur in 2015 and it also told in games ratio, had finished the day on a high the Men’s Singles final that ensued, with note and on the highest step of the podium. Xu Xin responding in style after losing three games in a row. “It was just as hard today as two years ago in Hong Kong”, concluded Xu Xin; it most “I won the first game quite comfortably; I certainly was the situation, very hard, very believed I could win, I made some mistakes hard indeed. and Fan Zhendong played well, he was very positive”, said Xu Xin. “After losing the Very hard and if anyone did things the hard fourth game, I tried to stay calm.” way it was Feng Tianwei, the only player in the whole tournament to remain unbeaten He stayed calm and he secured the fifth and the victor over two of China’s elite. and sixth games to force a decider; in the seventh game Xu Xin established a 5-2 Now that does not happen very often, in lead after the first six points had all gone fact very rarely and who was the last player with the server. Fan Zhendong elected for to achieve that feat; Feng Tianwei in 2010 “Time Out”; he reduced the deficit to one in Moscow? point at 6-5.

VITAL BREAK

Sensing danger, Xu Xin called “Time Out” but the break seemed to have worked in favour of Fan Zhendong. He levelled at 6-all. However, he was not able to seize the advantage, the next four points went to Xu Xin; one match point was saved but not the next. 42 WORLD RANKING LIST - MEN

RANKING PREVIOUS NAME ASSOC RANKING PTS. LIST - LIST

1 1 MA Long CHN 3113 • 2 2 XU Xin CHN 3028 3 4 ZHANG Jike CHN 2937 4 3 FAN Zhendong CHN 2900 5 5 MIZUTANI Jun JPN 2776 6 6 OVTCHAROV Dimitrij GER 2773 7 BOLL Timo GER 2662 8 9 FREITAS Marcos POR 2648 Ma Long (CHN) • No. 1 MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE - 9 10 SAMSONOV Vladimir BLR 2623 10 8 CHUANG Chih-Yuan TPE 2614 11 11 YAN An CHN 2569 12 12 NIWA Koki JPN 2543 13 13 TANG Peng HKG 2521 14 14 CHN 2478 15 15 GAO Ning SIN 2438 16 CHN 2436 17 16 JOO Saehyuk KOR 2406 18 34 WONG Chun Ting HKG 2399 19 BAUM Patrick GER 2377

Xu Xin (CHN) • No. 2 20 18 GARDOS Robert AUT 2371 20 17 APOLONIA Tiago POR 2371 22 19 GIONIS Panagiotis GRE 2354 23 24 MURAMATSU Yuto JPN 2353 24 20 JUNG Youngsik KOR 2347 25 27 MATSUDAIRA Kenta JPN 2333 26 26 STEGER Bastian GER 2329 27 22 YU Ziyang CHN 2325 28 35 MORIZONO Masataka JPN 2306 29 21 CHEN Chien-An TPE 2293 30 23 GACINA Andrej CRO 2291 31 27 MENGEL Steffen GER 2286 Zhang Jike (CHN) • No. 3 32 38 YOSHIDA Kaii JPN 2273 33 32 KIM Minseok KOR 2270 34 25 CHO Eonrae KOR 2265 35 29 MONTEIRO Joao POR 2261 Top 3 35 29 GAUZY Simon FRA 2261 37 69 KIM Donghyun KOR 2259 Player was active in the previous month 38 56 FILUS Ruwen GER 2255 38 31 ARUNA Quadri NGR 2255 Player had no activity in the previous month 40 39 MATTENET Adrien FRA 2245 41 44 CHN 2242 No activity within the last 4 months 41 37 ASSAR Omar EGY 2242 43 61 YOSHIMURA Maharu JPN 2241 The first list where their Starting Points 44 49 ACHANTA Sharath Kamal IND 2240 have become final, having attained 45 40 DRINKHALL Paul ENG 2236 5 Significant Wins 46 SHIONO Masato JPN 2226 47 33 LEE Sangsu KOR 2222 ^ Indicates the player is not eligible to represent the Association in World 48 41 JEONG Sangeun KOR 2208 Title events 49 47 SKACHKOV Kirill RUS 2206 49 CRISAN Adrian ROU 2206 ^^ Indicates the player is not eligible to represent the Association in World Title, Continental Title and International Team events. 43

RANKING PREVIOUS NAME ASSOC RANKING PTS.

51 44 KARLSSON Kristian SWE 2198 - LIST • 52 62 ^ QAT 2195 53 80 YOSHIDA Masaki JPN 2193 54 68 SHIBAEV Alexander RUS 2189 54 42 TSUBOI Gustavo BRA 2189 56 60 FRANZISKA Patrick GER 2185 57 57 OSHIMA Yuya JPN 2178 58 51 TOKIC Bojan SLO 2176 59 52 GORAK Daniel POL 2172 THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE - 60 73 CALDERANO Hugo BRA 2168 61 36 JIANG Tianyi HKG 2167 62 52 PITCHFORD Liam ENG 2154 63 43 GERELL Par SWE 2153 63 50 FEGERL Stefan AUT 2153 65 71 WANG Yang ^ SVK 2152 65 54 LIVENTSOV Alexey RUS 2152 67 48 HABESOHN Daniel AUT 2150 68 63 LI Hu ^ SIN 2149 69 55 AUT 2147 70 HE Zhiwen ESP 2137 70 66 CHIANG Hung-Chieh TPE 2137 72 64 POL 2136 73 65 VLASOV Grigory RUS 2133 74 TAKAKIWA Taku JPN 2129 75 72 WALTHER Ricardo GER 2127 76 83 PROKOPCOV Dmitrij CZE 2126 77 81 HUANG Sheng-Sheng TPE 2122 78 59 CRO 2117 79 76 JANG Woojin KOR 2115 80 94 PERSSON Jon SWE 2114 80 67 KOU Lei UKR 2114 82 78 SMIRNOV Alexey RUS 2104 83 75 WANG Eugene ^ CAN 2102 84 69 LEBESSON Emmanuel FRA 2100 85 74 MACHI Asuka JPN 2099 86 79 HO Kwan Kit HKG 2098 87 77 LUNDQVIST Jens SWE 2095 88 108 SAMBE Kohei JPN 2079 89 81 WU Zhikang ^^ SIN 2078 90 86 KREANGA Kalinikos GRE 2077 90 84 PATTANTYUS Adam HUN 2077 92 85 OUAICHE Stephane FRA 2066 93 CHAN Kazuhiro JPN 2065 94 89 LI Ahmet ^ TUR 2056 95 92 MATSUDAIRA Kenji JPN 2054 96 87 ELOI Damien FRA 2048 96 91 STOYANOV Niagol ITA 2048 96 88 LASHIN El-Sayed EGY 2048 99 89 KONECNY Tomas CZE 2044 100 97 ALAMIYAN Noshad IRI 2036

See all 44 WORLD RANKING LIST - WOMEN

RANKING PREVIOUS NAME ASSOC RANKING PTS. LIST - LIST

1 1 DING Ning CHN 3176 • 2 3 LIU Shiwen CHN 3154 3 2 LI Xiaoxia CHN 3136 4 4 FENG Tianwei SIN 3123 5 5 ISHIKAWA Kasumi JPN 3039 6 6 ZHU Yuling CHN 2998 7 7 CHN 2888 8 11 FUKUHARA Ai JPN 2877 Ding Ning (CHN) • No. 1 MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE - 9 8 HAN Ying ^ GER 2850 10 9 CHN 2839 11 10 SEO Hyowon KOR 2795 12 13 LIU Jia AUT 2773 13 15 HIRANO Sayaka JPN 2770 14 33 DOO Hoi Kem HKG 2740 15 38 ITO Mima JPN 2737 16 12 YU Mengyu SIN 2730 17 17 POTA Georgina HUN 2710 18 14 SAMARA Elizabeta ROU 2700 19 17 YU Fu ^ POR 2677

Liu Shiwen (CHN) • No. 3 20 26 ISHIGAKI Yuka JPN 2667 21 19 YANG Haeun KOR 2655 22 45 SOLJA Petrissa GER 2649 23 LIU Fei CHN 2632 24 33 JEON Jihee ^ KOR 2625 25 20 ^ SWE 2618 26 22 RI Myong Sun PRK 2605 27 27 NED 2601 28 25 HU Melek TUR 2597 29 24 SHAN Xiaona ^ GER 2591 30 21 LEE Ho Ching HKG 2588 31 23 GER 2564 Li Xiaoxia (CHN) • No. 2 32 32 MORIZONO Misaki JPN 2563 33 27 WAKAMIYA Misako JPN 2560 34 30 JIANG Huajun HKG 2557 35 29 ESP 2556 Top 3 36 51 HIRANO Miu JPN 2547 37 41 CHEN Szu-Yu TPE 2543 Player was active in the previous month 38 31 LI Jiao NED 2541 39 35 SILBEREISEN Kristin GER 2532 Player had no activity in the previous month 40 43 CHENG I-Ching TPE 2525 41 36 IVANCAN Irene GER 2522 No activity within the last 4 months 42 52 LI Qian POL 2519 43 36 CHN 2518 The first list where their Starting Points 44 42 TIE Yana HKG 2512 have become final, having attained 45 40 LIU Gaoyang CHN 2506 5 Significant Wins 46 50 YANG Xiaoxin ^^ MON 2504 47 46 CHN 2477 ^ Indicates the player is not eligible to represent the Association in World 48 GU Ruochen CHN 2474 Title events 49 44 LIN Ye ^ SIN 2470 50 49 LI Xue ^ FRA 2446 ^^ Indicates the player is not eligible to represent the Association in World Title, Continental Title and International Team events. 45

RANKING PREVIOUS NAME ASSOC RANKING PTS.

51 53 SATO Hitomi JPN 2443 - LIST • 52 CHE Xiaoxi CHN 2442 53 47 LEE I-Chen TPE 2441 54 63 HAYATA Hina JPN 2438 55 48 POLCANOVA Sofia ^ AUT 2437 56 54 MAEDA Miyu JPN 2433 57 55 RI Mi Gyong PRK 2426 58 59 KATO Miyu JPN 2422 59 57 VACENOVSKA Iveta CZE 2411 THE OFFICIAL PING MAGAZINE MAGAZINE PING OFFICIAL THE - 60 PESOTSKA Margaryta UKR 2398 61 58 WINTER Sabine GER 2397 62 61 ZHU Chaohui CHN 2396 63 62 BILENKO Tetyana UKR 2395 64 63 SZOCS Bernadette ROU 2384 65 59 ZHOU Yihan ^ SIN 2380 66 ZHANG Qiang CHN 2365 67 73 HAMAMOTO Yui JPN 2362 68 70 HE Zhuojia CHN 2356 69 67 MIKHAILOVA Polina RUS 2354 70 72 KIM Jong PRK 2351 71 65 HUANG Yi-Hua TPE 2349 72 66 SOLJA Amelie ^ AUT 2346 73 69 PARTYKA Natalia POL 2342 74 99 GRUNDISCH Carole FRA 2341 75 68 PARK Youngsook KOR 2338 76 75 EKHOLM Matilda SWE 2331 77 LUX 2328 78 91 MATSUDAIRA Shiho JPN 2322 79 71 MADARASZ Dora HUN 2321 80 MATSUZAWA Marina JPN 2311 81 74 NOSKOVA Yana RUS 2300 82 77 CHEN Ke CHN 2299 83 90 BALAZOVA Barbora SVK 2298 83 78 ZENG Jian ^^ SIN 2298 85 85 PASKAUSKIENE Ruta LTU 2287 86 76 POSTOACA Camelia ROU 2283 87 83 ZHANG Lily USA 2281 88 79 EERLAND Britt NED 2280 89 85 MITTELHAM Nina GER 2279 90 87 YOO Eunchong KOR 2273 91 80 MORI Sakura JPN 2271 92 81 TIAN Yuan CRO 2269 93 92 XIAN Yifang FRA 2260 94 82 BARTHEL Zhenqi GER 2255 95 83 GRZYBOWSKA Katarzyna POL 2254 95 CHOI Hyojoo ^ KOR 2254 95 94 DOLGIKH Maria RUS 2254 98 89 STRBIKOVA Renata CZE 2250 99 92 ZHANG Mo CAN 2241 100 96 GAPONOVA Ganna UKR 2235

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